Drought and stocking rates are two key terms

This past year, depending on where an individual lives, has set records for warm, moistureless days. Last spring and summer, as those in the north country battled excess snow and spring rain, only the occasional southern drought article found itself on the list of things to read.

The news of lean finely textured beef (LFTB) did have some influence on beef markets and the attitude of consumers. However, beef trade had been lackluster prior to that episode. Many market watchers have been waiting for grilling season to get underway, hoping that the seasonal trend would light up the beef markets.

Time has come to end the destructive death tax

Yesterday, I joined with 34 of my Senate colleagues to introduce the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act (S 2242). This legislation will permanently abolish the federal estate tax, better known by ranchers, farmers and family business owners across America as the “death tax.

In a 1-inch rainstorm, 27,154 gallons of water fall for every one acre of ground (U.S. Geological Survey). Compare this to the amount of rainfall the drought throughout the southern U.S. missed out on a year ago and you soon realize how much water that area didn’t receive.

Into the gutter

The gutter press appears to be alive and well in America. How else can one describe the appalling media disparagement of lean finely textured beef (LFTB) and Beef Products, Inc., (BPI) one of the two companies that make it? I’m not a conspiracy theorist.

Testing Lameness in bulls

As you are well aware, your bull or bulls are especially valuable to the productivity of any well-operated ranch. By quickly and accurately identifying lameness issues within the herd, one can diagnose and treat those animals most efficiently in order to avoid significant loss of profit in the long run.

Media mayhem

This episode with Beef Products Inc. (BPI) is a real tragedy. Last week, BPI shut down three of their four plants and temporarily laid of 650 people at those plants. It’s amazing that an elite segment of the general media was willing to throw them under the bus, espe- CROW.

Treating two activities as one for tax purposes

Sometimes a farm, livestock or horse activity may be closely connected to one’s principal occupation, with certain tax advantages. If two activities are treated as one, deductions and income from each activity can be aggregated in deciding whether the taxpayer has the requisite profit motive under the IRS hobby loss rule.

Slimed Again

They’re back! The celebrity foodies have selected Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) as their next target. It’s remarkable how fame can provide credibility to folks who have no idea what they are talking about. They do their damage and then they simply walk away.

Take us to our leaders

For those of us who serve in various capacities in cattle producer organizations, in fact, success is about the industry’s future. It’s about continuing a way of life for our children. And it’s about gaining ideas and information from others we can use in our own operations.